The provincial government is done using the problem-riddled Administrative Information Management System (AIMS) for employee scheduling.
SHA confirms in a statement that in response to challenges with the employee scheduling component of AIMS system, the Government of Saskatchewan has directed Saskatchewan Health Authority, in partnership with 3sHealth and the Ministry of Health, to return to previous scheduling systems.
This decision does not impact the supply chain, finance, payroll, and human resources components of AIMS, which remain in use by about 50,000 employees. This particular change will affect the approximately 7,000 employees who used the scheduling component in the former Kelsey Trail and Cypress health regions, as well as out-of-scope employees.
SHA and 3sHealth say they are targeting Nov. 30 for the return to the previous scheduling systems.
This news comes on the heels of concerns over the rollout of AIMS in the Cypress Health Region in southern Saskatchewan in September. The SEIU – West union representing health-care workers had complained that the scheduling snafus from the new system left their members unable to pay their bills or make ends meet, and raised concerns patients were not getting the care they need and deserve because AIMS was not scheduling enough staff.
In their statement Wednesday, the SHA said it sincerely thanked health-system employees “for their continued perseverance and dedication in adapting to the new system. We also acknowledge and apologize for the frustrations many have experienced with the scheduling component of AIMS.”
In the legislature Wednesday, Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill confirmed the decision regarding the scheduling and time validation portion of the AIMS program.
“This government is not willing to spend any more money on a time validation and scheduling part of the AIMS project that is not the needs of health-care workers,” Cockrill said. He added this was “not a cancellation” of the entire AIMS system, which seeks to replace 80 legacy systems.
“But we have not been happy with the results of the time validation and scheduling piece of that system,” Cockrill said. “These issues are not being rectified fast enough. I want to make sure that our health-care workers province get paid get paid on time, get paid correctly. Mr. Speaker. We’re going back to our legacy system for the short term and to find a better solution in the long term.”
In her remarks in the Assembly. Opposition Critic Meara Conway remained critical of the government’s investment in AIMS, saying “that $250 million later” the government had “nothing to show for it.”
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